Thursday's double technical fouls have been waved off by the league, which is a long-term boon for the Warriors

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Warriors forward Kevin Durant, left, and Clippers forward JaMychal Green jaw at each other during the second half of Game 3 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday night at Staples Center. The two were hit with technical fouls, both of which were rescinded on Friday. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The NBA eased the pressure on the defending champions Friday morning, rescinding the double technical fouls on Durant and Clippers forward JaMychal Green. The two were called less than four minutes into the third quarter, as they jawed on their way up the court.

Both players immediately protested the call as it was issued, and the league upheld their point of view. It’s a considerable break for Durant, who already was ejected in Game 1 with a double technical, and had burned through three of the seven fouls allotted before the NBA would issue a one-game suspension before the latest tech was taken back.

Even for a team as high-powered as the Warriors, losing their second-leading scorer for a playoff game is a big concern, particularly as they aim for their fourth championship in five years.

“One thing that worries me is there’s so many double techs being called to try and calm things down, but we’re gonna get hurt by that with the overall seven technical rule being a suspension,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said in a crash media session Friday morning. “So that’s helpful but you can’t have it both ways. You can’t call a double T every time to keep the game in control, but then penalize the team that plays a lot of playoff games. Those things start adding up.”

The Warriors, who have a 2-1 series lead, are evidently taking the long view – and history is a good guide. Their lone playoff series failure of the past five seasons hinged in part on a one-game suspension for Draymond Green against the Cavaliers in the 2016 NBA Finals, allowing Cleveland to complete a comeback from a 3-1 deficit.

It’s been an admitted strategy of the Clippers to try to rile Durant with 6-foot-1 Patrick Beverley, widely considered one of the league’s most relentless perimeter defenders and trash talkers. After a meek Game 2 performance with just eight shots, Durant scored 38 points in Game 3.

Kerr said he sensed a shift in Game 3, as referees called four fouls in the first two minutes of the game. But in the case of the double-technical, he felt an overcorrection.

“I think the league did a good job of recognizing both Kevin and JaMychal were incredulous,” he said. “Because they were actually laughing. They were talking a little trash. It’s part of the game. So I think the league did the right thing.”

“I saw every minute of that coming, I did,” Kerr said. “That guy, he’s a wizard out on the floor.”

The Warriors, of course, know from experience: Bogut was a key piece of two NBA Finals runs, and an injury in the 2016 Finals was seen as one of the factors in the Warriors losing that series. In the years since, he’s been an NBA journeyman, including a stint with the Lakers that ended on bad terms.

The 34-year-old spent most of the season playing in his native Australia, but players and coaches alike have praised Bogut’s conditioning and feel for the game since returning to Golden State. In the absence of DeMarcus Cousins (quadriceps tear), Bogut hasn’t replaced his skill set, but his rebounding and defense have helped strengthen other areas, Kerr said.

“His voice is so prominent,” he said. “When you’re down on the floor, you can just hear Bogues barking out commands, barking out signals, letting guys know where they need to be. He’s like a quarterback out there. He’s just a brilliant basketball player. He knows where to be and understands the angles. He knows how to attack. It’s fun to coach him.”

Kerr added that Cousins is at home recovering from the injury, which is considered to be season-ending, and is unlikely to join Golden State on the bench in Los Angeles for this series.

Kyle Goon covers the Lakers for the Southern California News Group. Before taking his talents to Los Angeles, he worked for The Salt Lake Tribune for eight years, covering everything from high school rodeo to the Utah Jazz. Gregg Popovich once baptized him by fire in a media scrum.